Edgab c



E. C. MESSERSMITH.

CART.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1912.

Patented Oct. 21, 19M).

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. C. MESSERSMITH.

CART.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE24. I918.

Patented Oct. 21,1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPI UNITED STATES rnrnnaonrion. .v

EDGAR c. MESSERSMITH, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, AssIGnoB; T oyonn'r MFG, 00., me, or BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A conronmrronornnw YORK.

CART;

App1ication filed June 24, 1918. .S'eriaI No'. 241,478;

a To all whom it may concern.

the tread of its wheels or a comparatively wide gage between said treads, and more.

particularly to a cart of this character which is designed for transporting material dur' ing warfare either in a comparatively nar' row-trench whichrequires a narrow tread -one end of the short axle for using the cartvehicle or upon the surface of the ground" where a wide tread vehicle may be employed and a load carried with less liability of tip ping laterally.

It is the object of this invention to provide a cart having this capacity which is capable'of being produced at low cost, which is strong and durable in construction and which can be quickly and easily ad usted so as to serve either as anarrow cart or as a wide cart and utilize the same parts in either of these organizations of the same.

In the accompanying drawings: Y Figure l is atop plan view of thls im proved cart, partly broken away, and showing the wheels arranged adjacent to opposite long sides of the frame. Fig. 2 is'a side elevation of the same, partly broken away, and the near wheel removed. Fig 3' is a vertical transverse sectlon of the cart ta'ken'through the short axle, on line 3+3, Fig 1. Figtis a similar section but showingthe wheels applied to opposite ends'of the long axle and the handle applied to with a wide tread or wheel base.

Similar characters'of reference refer tolike parts throughout the several views.

The main frame of this cart is of oblong form and the samemay be either moved with itsmajor axis parallel with the line ofmovement 'of the cart or with itsminor axis parallel with such line of movement,

thereby enabling the cart to be used either as awide tread cart or a narrow tread cart;

' the adjacent .tive axle with a coupling so Specification of Letters Patent. PatentediOct. 21, 19-19 i depending. uponthe particular conditions under which the same is employed. This;

frame may beof any suitable construction,-

but as shownin the drawings the same, is rectangular andconstructed :of twozlongi;

tudinal bars 1, l and two transverse bars 2,7,

2, these bars being preferably constructed of angle ironand'connected with each other in any suitable or well-known manner.

3 represents a long axle which is. ar-,

ranged lengthwise underneath the body mid,..

wayv between the long bars of the same and 4 a comparatively short axle arranged transversely underneath. the body midway between opposite short bars of the frame.v

7 These two axles are preferably constructed of tubular metal and the intersecting parts of the same wiithinthe center of the frame:

are connected by means of a cross-shaped fitting 0r coupling 5. At its opposite outer endseach of these. axles is provided with a coupling bracket 6 of metal. which is: brazed-or otherwise securedtothe exterior.

of the respective axle and also connected with part of the-main frame by meansof rivets 7 or the like. Each of these brackets is proviided'beltg the bore or. openingof which: is preferably of inwardly tapering form] and the outer the respecet or eye 8'.

side of which isi-preferably flush withthe respective: axle end.

9,v 9, representtwo supporting wheels of any suitable construction each ofwhich is plvota-llymountedon the outer end ofa horizontal axle 'arm 10. The inner end'lof each of these axle arms tapers inwardly'and' isadapted toengage the socket 8 ofrthe' coupling, bracket 'on the end of the short ends of the long axle. and to be retained 1n engagement therewith by means of a screw nut 11 ZLPPllBCliOdZlIQlIlIlBI end of this J axle arm and engaging with the inner side of the respective: coupling eye or socketj axle or thecoupling socket on one ofthe For the purpose of enabling thehcart to be pushed or pulled convenienly the :sameis provided with'a-han'dle' which preferably comprisesai longitudinal stem 12 and: a

transverse grip 13-appliedto the outer end of the-ste1n. This handl'e' is-adapted-to-be detachably connected with one or the other of the outer ends of either of said axles for which purpose the inner end of the stem of the handle isprovided With a shank 1 1 adapted to engage slidably with the tubular outer end portion of one of the axles, a bracket 15 is secured to the inner part of this stem and provided on its lower side with a coupling eye or socket 16 the opening of which tapers outwardly, and a coupling pin or bolt 17 which has its opposite ends tapering outwardly and adapted to engage one end with the tapering socket of the handle and its opposite end with the tapering socket on the respective axle, and screw nuts 18 applied to the outer ends of the coupling :bolt or pin and engaging with the adjacent sides of the coupling eyes on the respective axle and handle, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4.

Then this cart is to be used where only a narrow roadway is available, as for instance when transporting ammunition, food, medical supplies or wounded soldiers in a trench, the supporting wheels are mounted at opposite ends of the short axle and the handle is applied to one end of the long axle, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. In this organization of the parts a comparatively narrow gage-cart is produced in which the body is extended lengthwise of the direction of travel and permits of carrying the maximum load in the trench with facility and convenience.

When it is desired to transport ammunition, food, medical supplies or other loads on the surface of the ground, the wheels may be removed from the short axle and applied to opposite ends of the long axle and the handle maybe applied to one end of the short axle as'j'ndi'cated in Fig. 4. In this last mentionegqway large loads may be transported with sufficient lateral stability. All ofthe brackets on the several ends of the short and long axles are provided with like fittings and the fittings on the axle arms of the wheels are also identical, so that it is possible to interchange these wheels and assemble them relatively to the frame and axles indiscriminately. It is possible to also attach the handle to any one of the fittings on the several ends of the axles, thereby avoiding the necessity-of selecting a particular end, and facilitating the changing of the cart from a wide gage to a narrow gage or vice versa, to suit different conditions under which the same may be employed I and also enabling the load to be either pushed or pulled as best suits the particular circumstances.

In converting this cart from a narrowgage to a wide-gage tread, the same parts are used in different form of assembling the same, thereby avoidlng the necessity of carrying about any extra unused parts whlch would be liable to become lost if any of the parts were not in active use at all times.

All of the parts of this cart are of simple construction which are not liable to getout of order and they are capable of being assembled and dismembered without the use of rendering the same particularly suitable for use in warfare where quick action is necessary and special tools are undesirable.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cart comprising an oblong frame, a long axle secured lengthwise to said frame, midway between the long sides thereof, a short axle secured transversely to said frame, midway between the short sides thereof, and a pair of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on-the outer ends of either of said axles.

2. A cart comprising an oblong frame, a long axle secured lengthwise to saidframe, midway between the long sides thereof, a

- short axle secured transversely to said frame,

any special tools for this purpose, thereby midway between the short sides thereof,

pair of wheels, means for mounting said wheels 011 the outer ends of either of said axles, and a handle adapted to be detachably connected with an outer end of either said long or said short axles.

3.. A cart comprising an oblong frame,.a long axle secured lengthwise to said frame,

midway between the long sides thereof,

short axle secured transversely to said frame, midway between the short sides thereof, a pair of wheels, and means for mounting said wheels on the outer ends of either of said axles comprising brackets mounted on the outer ends of said axles and each having a socket, and axle arms each of which pivotally supports on its outer endone of said wheels and is detachably secured at its inner end in one of said sockets.

4. A cart comprising an oblong frame, a long axle secured lengthwise to said frame, a short axle secured transversely to said frame, a pair of wheels, means for mounts ing said wheels on the outer ends of either of said axles comprising brackets mounted on the outer ends of said axles and each having a socket, and axle arms each of which,

pivotally supports on its outer end oneof said wheels and is detachably secured at its inner end in one of said sockets, a handle, and means for detachably connecting said handle withthe outer end of any one of said axles comprising a bracket arranged on said handle, and a coupling connecting said handle bracket and the adjacent axle bracket.

5. A cart comprising an oblong frame, a long hollowaxlesecured lengthwise to said frame, a short hollow axle secured transversely to said frame, a pair of wheels, means for pivotally mounting said wheels on opposite ends of either of said axles com prising brackets mounted on the ends of said handle and slidably engaging the adsaid axles and axle arms each carrying one jacent hollow end portion of the respective of said Wheels and secured to one of said axle, and a bracket secured to the inner end 10 axle brackets, a handle, and means for dcof said handle and detachably connected tachably connecting said handle with the With the bracket on the adjacent end of the outer end of any one of said axles comprisrespective axle.

ing a shank secured to the inner ends of EDGAR C. MESSERSMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, D. G. 

